Durga Idol 2

This is one of the modern forms of idol of Goddess Durga, her four

children and Buffalo demon "Mahisasura". Worship of Goddess Durga

during four days in autumn is the biggest cultural cum religious

festival of the Bengalis. The festival has its tradition in

religion, but now has taken the form of a four day and night long

festivity and carnival. The idol shows Goddess Durga in the center

symbolising "good" engaged in a ruthless battle with the buffalo

demon symbolising "evil" and eventually killing him. The Goddess

Durga has ten hands holding ten lethal weapons gifted by other

powerful gods and goddess. However, the spear given by her husband

Lord Shiva seems to be sufficient to kill the demon. The Goddess has

lion as her divine vehicle to move around. Here the lion is seen

actively helping his mistress in the battle. These idols are hand-

made by crafty artisans usually from clay and are immersed in the

holy river after the festival is over. The idols are housed in make-

shift temples made out of variety of materials like tent-cloth,

bamboo, card-board, etc.